Tag: garrett gilbert

Washington tied with Eagles at halftime of Week 15 battle

Washington and the Eagles are tied 10 apiece at halftime.

The Washington Football Team started fast on offense and defense, in getting out to an early 10-0 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington’s defense continued to play well until midway through the second quarter when Eagles kicker Jake Elliott makes a short field to get Philadelphia on the board.

After a defensive stop, the Eagles would get the ball back on offense, driving the field before quarterback Jalen Hurts scored on a short touchdown to tie the game.

Washington had another opportunity to score just before halftime, but quarterback Garrett Gilbert was sacked before halftime, and Washington ran out the clock instead of risking a turnover.

Overall, Gilbert played well in the first half, considering he was just signed Friday. For the WFT to pull off the win, they will need to run the ball more effectively. Washington managed to rush for 34 yards on 12 attempts in the first half.

Meanwhile, Washington’s defense played a bend but don’t break style in the first half. The Eagles managed 261 total yards, including 102 rushing yards. Miles Sanders ran for 69 yards in the first half.

Washington’s defense must tighten up if it expects to win the game. Over the past six weeks, the defense has been outstanding.

WATCH: Garrett Gilbert finds Terry McLaurin for a big play vs. Eagles

Terry McLaurin makes a tremendous catch in the first quarter of Washington’s game vs. Eagles.

It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is for Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin. He always makes plays.

In the first quarter of Washington’s Week 15 game at Philadelphia, Washington quarterback Garrett Gilbert dropped back and found McLaurin deep down the sideline for a 46-yard reception.

It was McLaurin’s longest reception of the season.

Four plays later, Washington kicker Brian Johnson would connect on a 22-yard field goal to give Washington an early 10-0 lead.

Gilbert, 30, is making his second career NFL start. He started his first game in 2020 as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. He’s completed five of nine passes for 83 yards in the first half, and offensive coordinator Scott Turner has not been afraid to let Gilbert throw the ball.

Can Gilbert continue to play well enough to lead Washington to a critical road win?

Washington ships its own benches to Philadelphia ahead of Week 15 game vs. Eagles

Washington is bringing its own custom-made benches to Philadelphia for Tuesday’s Week 15 game.

The Dallas Cowboys surprised everyone ahead of their Week 14 game at Washington by shipping their own benches to FedEx Field. Allegedly, Dallas heard from Seattle players the visiting benches at FedEx Field kept losing heat during the game.

The benches were custom-built and emblazoned with the Cowboys’ logo and colors.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

It was likely a bit of gamesmanship from Dallas, as head coach Mike McCarthy also guaranteed a win.

Afterward, Washington coach Ron Rivera didn’t rule out Washington bringing its own customized benches to Dallas when the two teams meet again in Week 16.

Well, it appears Washington couldn’t quite wait that long. Ahead of its Week 15 game at Philadelphia, Washington had its own custom benches created and shipped to Lincoln Financial Field.

The first question is, why now? Washington plays at Dallas next weekend. Washington bringing its own benches to Philadelphia is a move that will surely draw the ire of the notoriously grumpy Eagles’ fans.

Washington will start Garrett Gilbert at quarterback against the Eagles, as Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list. So, it’s certainly an interesting time for a bit of gamesmanship.

Ultimately, who cares? But this feels like a typical Washington move under Dan Snyder. The Cowboys were first. So, he comes next and tries to upstage Dallas and ends up looking bad in the process.

The benches will not determine if Washington wins the game or not. But the WFT should be ready for a fired-up — and rested — Philadelphia squad.

Washington’s odds grow longer against Eagles as top-2 quarterbacks ruled out

When the NFL moved the Washington Football Team’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles from Sunday to Tuesday, there was hope that the extra time would allow for one of the team’s top-2 quarterbacks to clear COVID-19 protocols. That hope evaporated …

When the NFL moved the Washington Football Team’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles from Sunday to Tuesday, there was hope that the extra time would allow for one of the team’s top-2 quarterbacks to clear COVID-19 protocols.

That hope evaporated Tuesday evening when neither Taylor Heinicke nor Kyle Allen was among the three players Washington announced as having been activated.

Those three players were cornerback Troy Apke, tight end Sammis Reyes and defensive tackle Tim Settle — just a fraction of the more than 20 players Washington placed on the COVID-19/Reserve list amid a breakout last week.

The news means Garrett Gilbert, who Washington signed just four days ago, will get the start at quarterback.

Tuesday’s game, which carries huge playoff implications for both teams, will be the second start of Gilbert’s career and first since he was thrust into a replacement role for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 of last season.

Gilbert wasn’t completely awful that game — 21-of-38 for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers — but he had been on the roster for several weeks up to that point. The effort isn’t inspiring much confidence in what he and Washington will accomplish Tuesday. 

As of Dec. 13, the Eagles were 4.5-point favorites on Tipico Sportsbook with -230 odds on their moneyline and +180 on Washington. By Tuesday evening, that line is -8.5 with -475 on the Eagles and +340 on Washington.

The winner of this game improves to 7-7, which ties the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints for the seventh and final playoff seed in the conference. At 6-8, the loser will have a hard time getting back into the playoff picture.

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4 things to know about Washington QB Garrett Gilbert before his start against the Eagles

4 things to know about #WashingtonFootball QB Garrett Gilbert before his start against the #Philadelphia #Eagles #PHIvsWAS #FlyEaglesFly

Garrett Gilbert will start at quarterback for the Washington Football Team on Tuesday night against the Eagles after neither Taylor Heinicke nor Kyle Allen was activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Washington also elevated Kyle Shurmur off the practice squad to serve as the backup to Gilbert, who was signed by Washington off New England’s practice squad.

With Gilbert set to make his second-year start under huge expectations, here are five things to know about Washington’s starter for Tuesday.

Washington makes multiple moves ahead of Week 15 game vs. Eagles

Washington made multiple roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s game vs. Eagles.

The NFL moved Washington’s Week 15 game against the Eagles to Tuesday after the WFT’s COVID-19 outbreak last week. Washington saw over two dozen players added to the reserve/COVID-19 list, including its top two quarterbacks in Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen.

Now that the deadline has passed and Heinicke and Allen will remain on the COVID-19 list, Washington announced multiple roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s game.

Only three Washington’s players were activated from the reserve/COVID list. Washington activated defensive tackle Tim Settle, defensive back Troy Apke and tight end Sammis Reyes, but Reyes is dealing with a concussion and is ruled out for the game.

That means Washington will be without top cornerback Kendall Fuller, All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff and right tackle Cornelius Lucas, among others.

Washington also placed running back J.D. McKissic on injured reserve, dealing another tough blow to Washington’s decimated offense.

Washington activated the following players to fill out the roster:

  • FB Alex Armah
  • LB De’Jon Harris
  • QB Kyle Shurmur
  • OT David Steinmetz

In some good news for Washington, it has most of its defensive line back, including Montez Sweat — except for the injured Chase Young.

Washington’s two active quarterbacks will be Garrett Gilbert and Shurmur. Gilbert, 30, will make his second career NFL start. File that under things you never thought you’d see.

It’s official: Garrett Gilbert will start at quarterback for Washington vs. Eagles

It’s official: Garrett Gilbert will start at quarterback for Washington vs. Eagles.

The Washington Football Team hoped for a Christmas miracle ahead of Tuesday’s Week 15 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately for Washington, that miracle didn’t materialize, and journeyman Garrett Gilbert will start at quarterback in a critical NFC East game.

Tom Pelissero and Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network first reported Washington quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen did not clear COVID-19 protocols ahead of the 4:00 p.m. deadline and will remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

This is a tough break for Washington, which had hoped either Heinicke or Allen could clear COVID protocols and start against the Eagles.

Now, Washington’s playoff hopes are in the hands of the 30-year-old Gilbert. An eight-year NFL veteran, Gilbert is on his eighth team. He has one career start, and it came in 2020 for the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 21 of 38 passes for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception as he nearly led the Cowboys to an upset over then-undefeated Pittsburgh.

Gilbert has completed 23 of 44 passes for 283 yards for his career with one touchdown and one interception. He appeared in one game for Ron Rivera’s Carolina Panthers in 2018 and made five brief appearances for the Cleveland Browns in 2019.

Garett Gilbert to start at QB vs. Eagles with Taylor Heinicke still on Reserve/COVID-19 list

#Eagles vs. #WashingtonFootball: Garett Gilbert to start at QB vs. #Philadelphia with Taylor #Heinicke, Kyle Allen unable to clear COVID-19 protocols

Veteran quarterback Garrett Gilbert will start at quarterback for Washington, less than one week after being signed off the Patriots practice squad.

Gilbert was signed after both Taylor Heinicke (starter) and Kyle Allen (backup), were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list after an outbreak amid the Washington Football Team.

Gilbert will be making his second career start at quarterback and last season for Dallas, the Texas native went 21 of 38 passes for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Selected in the sixth round (214 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft, Gilbert spent time with the Panthers in 2018, and his father Gale was teammates with Washington head coach Ron Rivera, in college.

Gilbert’s insertion into the lineup is the best-case scenario for the Eagles and leaves no excuses for a team looking to win four straight in the division.

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Eagles remain strong favorites over Washington in Week 15

The Eagles are now a touchdown favorite over Washington.

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The Philadelphia Eagles opened as 4.5-point favorites over Washington last week. One week later, a lot has changed for Washington. The WFT has seen several players added to the reserve/ COVID-19 list, including quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen.

Over the past week, Washington has signed quarterbacks Garrett Gilbert and Jordan Ta’amu to provide depth at quarterback if Heinicke or Allen remains on the COVID list for Tuesday’s game. Washington also has Kyle Shurmur at quarterback. If Heinicke and Allen are out, Gilbert is the WFT’s likely starter, with Shurmur backing him up.

That doesn’t sound too promising for Washington’s chances.

And, according to Tipico Sportsbook, the WFT’s COVID and injury issues mean they are less likely to win. Tipico now has Philadelphia as 6.5-point favorites ahead of Tuesday night. Could that line increase if Heinicke or Allen are out?

What if Heinicke and/or Allen are activated from the reserve-COVID-19 list? Does that move the line toward Washington’s favor?

It will be interesting to watch the spread throughout the day Tuesday leading up to the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

 

Ron Rivera talks Washington’s quarterbacks ahead of matchup vs. Eagles

Ron Rivera discussed all four of Washington’s potential quarterbacks for Tuesday’s game vs. Eagles.

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The Washington Football Team is in the unenviable position of playing a critical road game against a division foe without knowing who will start at quarterback.

Thanks to a recent COVID-19 outbreak, both of Washington’s quarterbacks — Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen — currently reside on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That means Kyle Shurmur or Garrett Gilbert could start for Washington Tuesday night against the Eagles.

Shurmur signed with Washington’s practice squad in September and has never taken a regular-season NFL snap. Gilbert has played for several teams since entering the NFL in 2014 and was signed off the Patriots’ practice squad Friday.

While Gilbert has just one career start, he does have a history with head coach Ron Rivera.

On Sunday, Rivera spoke to the media regarding both quarterbacks.

First, he talked Gilbert:

Coming along. It’s going well. You know, I thought the quarterbacks had a good day today and I thought Garrett did a nice job. I thought he handled the wind pretty well. It was pretty windy out there for the most part and the quarterbacks had to throw into it. I thought they did a good job with it.

Then, he was asked about Shurmur:

“I think he’s doing a nice job in terms of preparation and getting himself ready just in case, “Rivera said.

From those brief statements, you can tell where Rivera is leaning if Heinicke or Allen can’t go. Gilbert will start for Washington.

However, the head coach is more optimistic about Heinicke and Allen’s chances for Tuesday.

“I do know, having seen the numbers that they’re all trending up, so that’s a good thing,” Rivera said. This is a tricky thing. It’s a health matter. Depending on how things go in the next 24 to 36 hours, we’ll know even more.”

Rivera is correct. By Monday afternoon, we should know if Allen or Heinicke will clear COVID protocols in time to start Tuesday. Some optimism for Washington is the WFT activated WR Cam Sims Sunday, and he went on the list the same day as Allen last week.

If Allen or Heinicke can’t play, Washington has almost no shot at winning this game against a rested and healthy Philadelphia team, also battling for a playoff berth.